The Descent of Isa Glad Tiding for Muslims

The Descent of Isa - Glad Tidings for the Muslims

Prophet
Isa (as) son of Maryam was raised up to heaven when the Jews wanted
to crucify him. His ascension to Heaven and his future return to
earth are mentioned in the Qur'an:

"That
they say (in boast): 'We killed the Messiah Isa, son of Maryam,
the Messenger of Allah, but they killed him not, nor crucified him,
but the resemblance of Isa was put over another man (and they killed
that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They
have no certain knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For
surely, they killed him not, but Allah raised him up unto Himself.
And Allah is ever All-Powerful, All-Wise. And there is none of the
people of the scripture but must believe in him before his death.
And on the Day of Resurrection, he (Isa) will be a witness against
them." (Qur'an
4:157-159)

Prophet
Isa (as) will return at the end of time, as stated in the Qur'an:

"And
he (Jesus), shall be a Sign of the Hour"(Qur'an
43:61)

Prophet
Isa (as) will descend at the time when Muslims are experiencing
the greatest of hardships. He will come to their help and make the
religion of Allah prevail on Earth.

The
Muslims will recognise him by the features that the Prophet Muhammad
(saws) described him:

He
said:

"I
am the closest of all the people to Isa, son of Maryam, for there
is no Prophet between him and myself. He will come again and when
you see him, you will recognise him. He is of medium height and
his complexion is reddish-white, he will be wearing two garments,
and his hair will look wet, although no water had got to it."

Related
by Ahmad

The
Time Prophet Isa (as) Will Descend

The
coming of Isa (as) will be a glad tiding to the Muslims who stood
firm and fought for the cause of Allah and did not succumb to the
temptations of the Dajjal. At that time, the only two options for
humanity will be to embrace Islam or die:

"Allah
will send the Messiah, son of Maryam, and he will descend to the
white minaret in the East of Damascus, wearing two garments dyed
with saffron, placing his hands on the wings of two angels. When
he lowers his head, beads of perspiration will fall from it, and
when he raises his head, beads like pearls will scatter from it.
Every Kaffir (unbeliever) who smells the fragrance (of his breath)
will die, and his breath will reach as far as he can see. He will
search for the Dajjal until he finds him at the gate of Ludd where
he will kill him. Then a group of people whom Allah has protected
will come to Isa (as), son of Maryam, and he will wipe the traces
of hardship from their faces and tell them of their place in Paradise.
At that point, Allah will reveal to Isa (as): 'I have brought forth
some of My servants whom no-one will be able to fight. Take my servants
safely to Al-Tur.'"

(Muslim)

He
will descend when the Muslims gather to fight the Dajjal when they
are preparing their ranks for the Fajr prayer, and their Imam had
advanced to lead them. The Imam will then step back and ask Isa
(as) to advance and lead the prayer, but he will refuse. Prophet
Muhammad (saws) informed us:

"....While
their Imam is going forward to lead them in Fajr prayer, Isa (as)
will descend. The Imam will step back to let Isa (as) lead people
in prayer but Isa (as) will place his hands between the mans shoulders
and say: 'Go forward and lead the prayer for the iqamah (call to
commence prayer) was made for you, and so the Imam will lead the
people in prayer.'"

(Ibn
Majah)

The
symbolic gesture from Isa (as) to let the Imam lead the prayer will
be to show that he will be following the true religion, Islam, and
will not bring forth any different rules different from the Shari'ah.

References:
Al-Jumuah Magazine - article written by Dr. Alia Amer

Riyadh-us-Saleheen